Different Types Of Colorectal Cancer Screenings: What You Should Know

Health & Medical Blog

Nobody wants to think that they could find themselves in a situation in which they are diagnosed with colon cancer. However, if you do not take all of the precautions and steps to get screened for colon cancer, you may find yourself in a position where you have advanced or metastasized colon cancer. Get to know some of the different types of colon cancer screening tests that you can get to be sure that you remain as healthy as possible for as long as possible. These screenings can also help you to get an early diagnosis if you do turn out to have colon cancer so that you can get more effective and swift treatments.

Colonoscopy Screening

The standard screening for colorectal cancer is commonly known as a just a colonoscopy but is technically known as an optical colonoscopy. This procedure involves what is known as a colonoscope which is a small tube with a light and an optical camera.

Prior to the procedure, you will take laxative medications to clean out your intestines and colon and allow your doctor to get a good look at the inside of your colon. The colonoscope will be inserted into your rectum.

If your doctor notices any growths in you rectum or colon known as polyps while you get this test, they can biopsy (remove all or part of them) to run lab tests and examine them more closely. This removal process can be done while you are having the colonoscopy eliminating the need for two separate procedures.

CT Screenings

Sometimes, people cannot go through a standard colonoscopy due to issues with anesthesia, bleeding problems, or discomfort. If this is the case, there are other options available to screen for colorectal cancer. However, they are not necessarily as effective at detecting smaller polyps or cancerous lesions than an optical colonoscopy.

A CT (computed tomographic) colon screening is one such option. This is a non-invasive screening test that takes images from the outside of the body to form a comprehensive picture of the internal structure of the colon. Of all of the non-standard colon screenings, the CT is one of the most effective tests for colorectal cancer.

However, the issue is that if any abnormalities are detected or you have polyps, you will need to have a separate procedure to have those biopsied. This can be tough if you have a busy schedule and the waiting between procedures can cause stress and worry.

Now that you know a few of screening tests available for colorectal cancer, you can be sure that you schedule your appointment (at clinics like Clinical Gastrointestinal Associates, PC) as needed so that you can prevent colon cancer and detect it early if you do receive a diagnosis.

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22 December 2015

Take Your Health Into Your Own Hands

My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.